Germany continues its steady march towards an era of legal cannabis.
Just last week, the country’s health ministry presented a draft bill outlining new rules concerning personal use and growth of marijuana.
For the largest economy in Europe, this shift has been in the making. German lawmakers have been tirelessly working to revise the nation’s cannabis laws over the past year.
Upon introducing the draft bill, the health ministry explained its two-pronged approach: to permit private cultivation by adults for personal use and to authorize collective, non-commercial cultivation of cannabis in designated associations.
As per Forbes, the draft bill stipulates that “adults aged 18 and above can possess up to 25 grams of cannabis for personal use and grow a maximum of three plants.”
“However, cannabis use remains banned within ‘immediate proximity’ to individuals under 18, within a 200-meter radius of schools, children’s facilities, youth centers, playgrounds, public sports facilities, and pedestrian zones from 7 am to 8 pm. It should be underscored that penalties and criminal charges will still be applicable for specific illicit activities,” Forbes reported.
Additionally, the proposed law enables an association to accommodate up to 500 members. Each “member of the association can receive either 25 grams per day or 50 grams per month for personal use.”
In April, following dialogues between German leaders and European Union officials, it became clear that Germany’s cannabis reform would be less expansive than initially planned.
The Associated Press reported that the “German government adjusted the plan after discussions with the European Union’s executive commission.”
German Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir voiced that EU law “establishes boundaries we must abide by, but also, we are pushing,” as quoted by the Associated Press.
“Lauterbach always insisted that the government would only go forward with its original plan if it received the EU’s approval,” according to the AP. “Germany has permitted some patients to access cannabis as a prescription medication since 2017.”
In a guide posted on its website, the German Ministry of Health laid out the future steps in the draft bill’s journey to become law.
“The draft law is expected to be passed in the federal cabinet during the summer break. Afterwards, it will be introduced into the parliamentary legislative process and debated in both the German Bundestag and the Bundesrat in the autumn. The German Bundestag is responsible for the final decision on the law,” the government agency stated. “The law doesn’t require the Bundesrat’s approval. It is planned to be enforced by the end of 2023. Once the bill is enacted, adults can legally smoke cannabis in Germany under the proposed law. Until then, cannabis remains illegal.”
The ministry also elucidated why the German government decided to overhaul its cannabis laws.
“The federal government believes that the current drug policy on cannabis use is hitting a wall. Despite its purchase and possession being illegal, cannabis is commonly used and usage has risen in recent years,” the agency clarified. “Consuming cannabis, sourced from the black market, often carries higher health risks, given the unknown THC-content and possible presence of toxic contaminants, impurities and synthetic cannabinoids, whose potency is unpredictable for the user. The law intends to enhance health protection, bolster cannabis-related education and prevention, stifle organized drug crime, and fortify child and youth protection. To safeguard consumers, the quality of consumer cannabis will be regulated and the distribution of contaminated substances will be inhibited. However, the law doesn’t aim to encourage the spread of cannabis use.”
